Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek has announced $127.9 million for 151 grants for ground-breaking health and medical research across Australia.

“The Gillard Government is very pleased to be supporting Australia’s best and brightest medical researchers as they undertake their vital work,” Ms Plibersek said.

“Continued government investment in research enables development of effective new treatments and new policy solutions in our health system.”

Ms Plibersek said as a result of this investment, medicines were our biggest research-intense goods exports, helping to build a stronger, more competitive and more productive economy.

Ms Plibersek made the announcement at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where she toured the Lowy Cancer Research Centre laboratory with Professor David Cooper AO who received $12.6 million for research into HIV.

“Cures, vaccines and better treatments for HIV are an urgent and global health priority. In Australia, HIV is a serious disease with infections increasing by 8% in 2011,” Ms Plibersek said.

“This research will study how HIV can lie dormant in some parts of the body, evading eradication by HIV therapy, as well as how the immune system responds to the virus.”

The grants are administered by Australia’s premier health and medical research body, the National Health and Medical Research Council and address research needs, from basic science to how research can be better translated into practice. They provide support for researchers embarking on a career through to well established teams of researchers with outstanding track records of achievement.

Other highlights from today’s announcement:

Professor Stephen MacMahon, University of Sydney will receive $17.8 million to identify more effective health policy and improved clinical practice in the treatment of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

Ms Anne Eades, The George Institute for International Health will receive $78,437 to explore the impact on women living with chronic disease.

Dr Sradha Kotwal, The George Institute for Global Health will receive $75,658 to explore patient, provider and health system barriers to equitable care for rural patients with kidney disease.

Funding announced today comes on top of $652 million announced by Minister Plibersek in October and $2.83 billion delivered to medical researchers by the Australian Government since 2008.

Top Research Facts

New South Wales will receive the highest amount of funding, with $73.9 million for 52 grants.

The University of New South Wales is the research institution receiving the greatest amount of funding, with $52.4 million for 15 grants.

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is the independent medical research institute receiving the greatest amount of funding, with $16.7 million for 7 grants.

HIV research will receive $12.8 million, cardiovascular research will receive $40.6 million, and cancer research will receive $38.8 million.

Research for one of the biggest burdens on society, ageing, will receive $28.2 million.